The Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation Team (CARE Team), previously known as the Threat Assessment Team, is a college wide team of appointed staff and faculty. This team is responsible for
identifying, assessing, and responding to concerns and disruptive behaviors by students
who are struggling (i.e. academically, emotionally, psychologically) or present a
risk to the health or safety of the college or its members.
Team Goals:
Provide a safe and supportive environment for members of the college community
Gather, assess, and deploy interventions with individuals who demonstrate concerning
or threatening behavior
Provide supportive and educational resources to the community regarding health and
safety
The CARE Team is a multidisciplinary committee which includes individuals from different
departments.
Dean of Students
Dean of Community Standards
Chief of Campus Police
Clinical Counselor
Director of Disability and Accessibility
Other staff members may be asked to join on a case-by-case basis to best support a
student
The CARE Team meets weekly to discuss all referrals and works together to assess the
level of concern for the student, identify areas of need, and provide holistic support
services.
If you notice that a student is exhibiting one or more of the following academic,
physical or emotional signs, please make a referral to the CARE Team.
Excessive procrastination and very poorly prepared work, especially if this is inconsistent
with previous efforts.
Missing assignments or exams.
Multiple absences or excessive tardiness.
Decline in interest or enthusiasm.
Inability to follow assignment instructions or tasks, despite repeated attempts to
clarify/encourage.
Repeated requests for special consideration (e.g. deadline extensions).
Dependence on professor/tutor that is beyond what is usual for a student needing assistance
in your class.
Emotions (sadness, nervousness, fearfulness, etc.) that are displayed to an extreme
degree or for a prolonged period of time.
Change in typical personality (e.g., more outgoing or more withdrawn than usual).
Difficulty connecting with the community, making friends, etc.
Difficulty dealing with a life event (e.g., death in family, relationship breakup).
Marked irritability, anger, hostility.
Direct mention of thoughts of self-harm, harm to others, or suicide.
Strange or bizarre behavior that is obviously inappropriate to the situation (e.g.,
seeing or hearing things other people don’t).
Chronic fatigue or falling asleep at inappropriate times.
Marked change in personal hygiene or appearance.
Noticeable or dramatic change in energy level.
Dramatic weight loss or weight gain.
Impaired speech or confused disjointed thoughts.
Frequently appears “hung-over” or attends class intoxicated.
After the CARE Team receives a referral, the Dean of Students Office gathers more
information and connects with the student to offer support. If the referral warrants
further assessment, it will be added to the CARE Team agenda. The CARE Team will then
gather further information, analyze, and provide intervention. The Team Chair or a team member will contact the referral source to provide an update as permitted by FERPA.
Tips to Help a Friend:
As fellow community members, you know your friends, roommates, students, etc. quite
well. Often times, you can offer a considerable amount of help to your friends and
students since they already know and trust you. Here are some tips you can use when
offering support to someone before (or in conjunction with) getting them professional
help.
Stop what you’re doing and focus on the person you are talking to.
Acknowledge what you’ve heard and make sure you are understanding what the person
is saying.
Ask questions about what the student has already tried or what they think might be
helpful.
Help them in determining their strengths and where they might need extra support.
Ask questions to find out if this is an emergency or if the person is thinking of
hurting themselves. If they are, call Campus Police at 401-825-2000 or 911 right away.
Make a referral to the CARE Team
Contact the appropriate staff on campus based on the issues discussed with the student.
When in doubt, contact Campus Police for assistance or in an emergency dial 911
Recognizing Boundaries:
When supporting a friend or student, it can often take a toll on you as the support
person. It is important to maintain personal boundaries while communicating warmth
and creating a supportive environment. You are not a mental health professional and
should not place unreasonable expectations on yourself regarding how you can help.
Recognize the limits of what you can do and ask for help.
CCRI has also partnered with Telus Health, a counseling service which is available
to you free of charge 24/7.
FAQs:
Anyone within the CCRI community, includingparents/guardian may contact the CARE Team if they have concerns about a student's well-being or safety.
Concerns may include but are not limited to: emotional distress, mental health issues, behavioral changes, substance abuse, harassment,
or any other situation where a student may need support or intervention.
You may contact the CARE Team by emailing deanofstudents@ccri.edu. You may also fill out the CARE Referral Form located on this page.
While we take confidentiality seriously, some information may need to be shared with
appropriate school officials or external agencies to provide the necessary support and intervention.
We will strive to respect the privacy of all individuals involved to the fullest extent possible.
Once a report is received, the CARE Team will review the information and determine the appropriate course of action, which may include outreach to the student, offering support services,
connecting them with resources, or coordinating with other campus departments.
While we encourage individuals to provide their contact information for follow-up
purposes, anonymous reports will be accepted. However, please note that providing
contact information allows us to gather additional information if needed and ensures a more effective response.
The CARE Team can provide a range of support services, including but not limited to
counseling, academic assistance, referrals to community resources, safety planning,
and ongoing monitoring of the student's well-being.
If it's an emergency (i.e. suicide ideation or threat to self or community)or if you believe someone is in immediate danger, please call campus police at 401-825-2000 or 911 immediately.
The CARE Team and Personal Counseling Office have different focuses and functions,
but they often work together to ensure that students receive effective support. The CARE Team may refer students to the Personal Counseling Office for ongoing support,
while the Personal Counseling Office may provide feedback to the CARE Team regarding student concerns that require a broader intervention or support.
